Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY) Sets New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Key Points

• Ryanair shares hit a new 52-week low, falling 2.3% to about $52.97 and trading below both their 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• Recent earnings missed expectations: quarterly EPS was $1.19 versus the $1.37 consensus, while revenue came in at $5 billion, slightly below estimates.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $73.97, while the company also announced a special dividend of $0.4434 per share.

Shares of Ryanair Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:RYAAY - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $53.02 and last traded at $52.9650, with a volume of 816777 shares. The stock had previously closed at $54.25.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on RYAAY. Weiss Ratings downgraded Ryanair from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Friday, September 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Ryanair in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Zacks Research lowered Ryanair from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Monday, August 17th. Raymond James Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of Ryanair in a research note on Monday, August 24th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Ryanair in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $73.97.

Ryanair Trading Down 2.3%

The stock has a market capitalization of $27.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 1.16. The stock's 50 day moving average is $59.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $59.85.

Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 17th. The transportation company reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.18). The firm had revenue of $5 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. Ryanair had a return on equity of 21.23% and a net margin of 12.14%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Ryanair Holdings PLC will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Ryanair Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Friday, August 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.4434 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 7th. Ryanair's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.52%.

Insider Transactions at Ryanair

In other Ryanair news, insider John Hurley sold 15,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.24, for a total value of $468,600.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 76,025 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,375,021. The trade was a 16.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ryanair

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of RYAAY. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its holdings in shares of Ryanair by 5.7% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 755,526 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $48,920,000 after purchasing an additional 40,648 shares during the last quarter. Maven Securities LTD acquired a new position in Ryanair during the second quarter worth $1,554,000. RFG Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in Ryanair by 5.6% during the second quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 3,788 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $245,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in Ryanair by 48.1% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 665 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LP grew its position in Ryanair by 13.1% in the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 4,911 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 569 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.65% of the company's stock.

About Ryanair

Ryanair Holdings plc is an Irish airline group that operates low-cost, scheduled passenger services primarily across Europe. Through its operating airlines, including Ryanair, Ryanair UK, Malta Air, Buzz and Lauda, the group connects a broad network of destinations with a focus on affordable fares, high aircraft utilization and short-haul travel.

The company serves markets throughout the United Kingdom and continental Europe, as well as selected destinations in North Africa and the Middle East.

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